Physicochemical characteristics of the Lasiococca comberi Haines seeds

Abstract

Physicochemical characteristics and fatty acid composition of Lasiococca comberi Haines (Euphorbiaceae), an endangered forest tree species, were determined for the first time. The oil, protein, crude fibre and carbohydrate contents in seeds were 41.5, 13.8, 22.2 and 11.6%, respectively. The refractive index, pH, specific gravity, saponification value, iodine value, peroxide value and p-anisidine value of seed oil were 1.4781, 6.4, 0.9, 178.4 mg KOH/g, 196 g I₂/100 g of oil, 5.1 mEq O₂/kg and 188.4, respectively. The predominant fatty acids were linolenic acid (65.3%), oleic acid (13.8%), linoleic acid (7.1%) and palmitic acid (5.3%). HPLC analysis revealed the presence of α-tocopherol (13.2 mg/100 g) and γ-tocopherol (6.3 mg/100 g) as the major tocopherols. The results indicated that L. comberi seed oil can be classified as drying oil having possible applications in different industries and as an important dietary source of omega-3 fatty acids.

Keywords:

• Fatty acids
• Lasiococca comberi
• physicochemical properties
• seed oil
• tocopherols

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India for granting All India coordinated research project on “Preventing extinction and improving the conservation status of threatened plants through application of biotechnological tools” (grant number BT/Env/BC/01/2010) and the Chief Executive, Regional Plant Resource Centre, Bhubaneswar, Odisha for providing field and laboratory facilities.